AMERICUS — July 2, 1951: “Mr. and Mrs. Olin Speer, of Winter Haven, Fla., are visiting Mr. and Mrs. John Rushin.”

July 3, 1951: “HOSPITAL NOTES – PRATHER CLINIC – J.W. Cobb is a medical patient. CITY HOSPITAL – Miss Carrie Speer continues to undergo treatment.”

July 7, 1951: “Mrs. Sam Gunn and son Tommy, are expected home today from Vidalia, where they have visited for several days with her mother.”; “Miss Marie Purvis and Elise Smith left today for a motor trip to California and various points of interest.”

July 17, 1951: “Mr. and Mrs. Quention James and daughter, Libbie, have moved from Barlow street to 430 Holderness Street, S.W. Atlanta, where Mr. James has accepted a position at Ballock Machinery and Implement Company.”; “Mrs. O.S. Bass Sr. has moved from Barlow street to the home of her daughter, Mrs. George Worthy and Mr. Worthy on Oglethorpe avenue.”

July 25, 1951: “Mrs. W.F. Livingston is ill at her home on Albany road.”

July 30, 1951: “Mr. and Mrs. Quention James and baby, of Atlanta, spent the weekend with her mother, Mrs. O.S. Bass Sr. and Mr. and Mrs. Worthy at their home on Oglethorpe avenue.”

Aug. 1, 1951: “Mr. and Mrs. S.J. McCormick, of Jacksonville, and Mr. and Mrs. Judson Strong, of Albany, spent the weekend with Mrs. M.T. King, Mr. and Mrs. C.R. Speer, and Miss Ella Cameron. Mr. and Mrs. McCormick were accompanied home yesterday by their granddaughter, Ruth Strong, of Albany, who had been visiting Miss Cameron here.”; “Mr. and Mrs. Jimmy Bass and family will leave today for Kenosha, Wisconsin to visit Mr. and Mrs. Walter Daniel.”; “Mr. and Mrs. Jimmy Bass have moved from 511 Barlow street to 513 Barlow street.”

Aug. 3, 1951: “Leslie News – Mrs. C.J. Cheves of Gainesville, Ga., daughter Joan and little daughter are here visiting Mr. and Mrs. H.L. Speer this week.”

Aug. 6, 1951: obituary of Anne Speer, Mrs. Wm. R. Speer, died Aug. 3rd, aged 89 years

Aug. 9, 1951: “Office Building Here Complying With Fire Laws - The Citizens Bank Building here [4-story at corner of Forsyth and Lee] has become the first existing office building in the State of Georgia to comply with state fire laws … ”

Aug. 15, 1951: “Johnnie Rushin is undergoing treatment for undulant fever at Prather Clinic.”

Aug. 16, 1951: “Miss Cynthia Snider, of Atlanta, is visiting her grandmother, Mrs. O.S. Bass Sr., and other relatives.”

Aug. 22, 1951: “Johnny Rushin remains quite ill at Prather Clinic.”

Aug. 24, 1951: “HOSPITAL NOTES – PRATHER CLINIC – J.D. Rushin continues to undergo treatment for undulant fever.”

Sept. 4, 1951: “Mr. and Mrs. Quention James and daughter, Libby, have returned to Atlanta after spending the weekend with her mother, Mrs. O.S. Bass Sr., and Mr. and Mrs. George Worthy.”; “Miss Barbara Hale, who is private secretary and receptionist for the manager of radio station WATL, Atlanta, spent the weekend with her mother, Mrs. C.M. Hale.”

Sept. 6, 1951: Russell Speer, et. al., guests at Pamela Peters’ fourth birthday party Sept. 5th; “Mr. and Mrs. S.A. McCormick, of Jacksonville, Mr. and Mrs. T.K. Speer, of Atlanta, and Mr. and Mrs. Judson Strong and children, Martha Ruth and Johnnie, of Albany, were recent guests of Mr. and Mrs. M.T. King, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Speer and Miss Ella Cameron.”

Sept. 14, 1951: photograph, with names, of AHS Panthers; “Mr. and Mrs. O.S. Bass Jr. and Miss June Mundy left today for Atlanta, to attend the graduation exercises of the Naval Air Station … in which the formers’ son, Spud Bass, will participate. He will return home with them Sunday and enroll as a student at Georgia Southwestern College.”

Sept. 24, 1951: “Old County Mill Burns Saturday [Sept. 22] - By W.T. McMATH - … destroyed one of Sumter County’s oldest last marks. This mill was erected by Dr. Barlow, about one hundred and ten years ago. When settlers began to arrive in this section in 1827 to make their new home, corn meal was the staff of life and citizens with corn to grind could not travel long distances to get it ground … If my memory serves me right there was Chambliss Mill in the 28th, Brown’s Mill, on big Lime Creek, and one just below the roadway leading to Brown’s Mill, on Little Lime Creek. North of Americus, on a small creek where the old Andersonville roadway crosses, a corn mill was located. On Wolf Creek the Broadfield mill later known as McMath’s was located. On each of the small creeks on the Ellaville road was two Barney Parker Mills. There was also another one located farther up one of these streams. On Little Muckalee Creek, near Friendship was Dozier’s Mill. On Lanahassee Creek, there was Salter’s Mill, located just above the roadway going to Plains. Seward’s Mill, where the Seaboard crosses. Dr. Black’s Mill, where the old Bottsford road crosses; Windsor’s Mill where the Dawson road crosses and Wells’ Mill further down. On Choetahachee Creek north of Plains, is Harper Black’s, later known as Prices. On Pessel Creek a mill was located near Providence Church, and the Daviston [sic] Mill was located further down. Hook’s Mill was located on a small stream where Hook’s public road crosses. Mitchell’s Mill was located near C. of G. depot, on Town Creek … All but four of these, Brown’s, Wells’ Daviston’s and Black’s (Prices) have ceased to operate.”; “Will Dedicate New Experiment Station Today - Top brass in education and agriculture converged on Americus today for the dedication of the new Southwest Georgia Experiment Station … Present to represent the state will be A.C. Aderhold, president of Board of Regents who will receive the deed to the 456 acre Wise farm from Fred Statham … ceremonies and barbecue will be held on the site of the new experiment station.”; “Mr. and Mrs. Olin Rushin went to Macon today to attend a Club Managers’ meeting at the Idle Hour Country Club.”

Sept. 26, 1951: Joy Lister, et. al., guests at Allen McLaughlin’s fourth birthday party Sept. 25

Oct. 2, 1951: reprint from October Daughter’s of the American Revolution magazine with Janet S. Merritt’s history of Wm. Harris Crawford

Oct. 4, 1951: “WILL HONOR WWII VETERANS - Shown above is the artists drawing of the memorial tablet to be placed in Rees Park by the Veterans of Foreign Wars in honor of the men and women from Sumter County who served during World War II. The tablet will be of bronze and will be mounted on a monument of native rock or stone. The names of those who died during World War II will be inscribed upon the tablet. There will be about 32 names on the tablet. These names will be published in The Times-Recorder in the near future.”

Oct. 5, 1951: “BIRTHS – Mr. and Mrs. Charles Schneider, of Chattanooga, Tenn., announce the birth of a daughter, Tuesday, Oct. 2. Mrs. Schneider is a former resident of Americus and the baby is the granddaughter of Mrs. C.A. Schneider, of this city.”

Oct. 8, 1951: “Misses Inez Jones and Irma Lee Wishard, of Moultrie, are visiting Mrs. J.W. Cobb, Jefferson street.”

Oct. 10, 1951: “Hollywood Stars Fall On Americus; Dan Duryea Likes Georgia Peaches By RUDY HAYES - Stars … fell on Americus at noon today when distinguished badman actor Dan Duryea … in connection with the “Movietime USA” campaign. The trio accompanied by Roy Martin of the Martin Theatres of Georgia … entered Americus with a siren-sounding State Patrol escort … stopping near the local theatre … As we said goodbye to Duryea and Miss Eberhardt, they boarded the bus to go to Albany, their next stop … ”

Oct. 15, 1951: “Mrs. C.M. Blanton (et. al.) … were weekend guests of Mr. and Mrs. H.L. Crandall.”; “Mrs. J.C. Speer and Mrs. Hattie Gainey are visiting relatives in Waycross.”

Oct. 18, 1951: list of WW II casualties from Sumter County for Rees Park memorial

Oct. 19, 1951; “Davis Funeral Home Damaged By Raging Fire - … caused by defective wiring … early this morning. The flames were discovered by Shirly Hudson Jr., who was passing the building … about 4:00 A.M. Hudson drove directly to the Fire Department and gave the alarm. Firemen were on the scene immediately. Mr. Davis was asleep in his apartment on the second floor when the noise of the fire engines woke him up. His room was filled with smoke … but made it safely downstairs. Mrs. Davis and their little daughter were out of town. Firemen battled the raging fire for two hours … entire third story … was gutted and the slate roof fell in. Flames also destroyed the ceiling of the second floor and made their way into the second floor walls. Although fire did not reach the ground floor, water damage was heavy there and throughout the rest of the building … Despite the fire, the huge basement floor … where most of the mortuary work is done was not damaged too much and Mr. Davis announced this morning that business would continue as usual.” [the former 1892 G.W. Glover residence site is presently the First Baptist Church on Lee Street.]

Oct. 20, 1951: “Americus Fire Department Wins Top State Award - … State Safety Fire Commissioner Zach D. Cravey has cited the Americus Fire Department for the State Award of Merit. Presentation to veteran Chief H.K. “Hot” Henderson will be made at capitol ceremonies … ”

Oct. 22, 1951: more names for WW II memorial (revised list Oct. 24)

Oct. 24, 1951: “Mr. and Mrs. Olin Rushin returned from Atlanta Tuesday, after attending two-day convention of Country Club managers from several southeastern states … Mr. Rushin is manager of the Americus Country Club.”

Oct. 30, 1951: obituary of Frank Lanier “Pat” Sullivan, son of W.C. and Betty Daniel Sullivan

Nov. 3, 1951: “Spud Bass is spending the weekend in Athens, going up for homecoming … ”

Nov. 6, 1951: “Tex Beneke Will Play Here Tonight - Tex Beneke, nationally famous orchestra leader, and his orchestra will play at the Georgia Southwestern College gymnasium tonight for a dance sponsored by the Civitan Club … ”

Nov. 8, 1951: W.T. McMath account of DeSoto and the Indians; “Mrs. Buddy Lister, who is ill with a throat infection, is better.”; “BUILDING PERMITS – Charles Speer has been issued a permit to construct a $12,000 seven room house on Rose avenue.”

Nov. 9, 1951: “PRATHER CLINIC – John D. Rushin Jr., is a surgical patient.”

Nov. 12, 1951: “HITLER’S CAR TO BE SHOWN HERE - Pictured is a German Mercedes limousine, personal car of the late Adolph Hitler, that was seized near the end of World War II and is currently being exhibited at points throughout this country. The car will visit Americus … Nov. 13 and 14 under the auspices of John D. Mathis Post No. 2, of the American Legion. It will be parked on Forsyth street, opposite the Martin theatre, and will be exhibited each day from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. … The auto will contain wax figures of Hitler, Hermann Goering, the fuehrer’s air force chief, and a chauffeur. The vehicle was captured on May 7th, 1945, by the Free French forces. No charge for inspection will be made but a free will offering will be accepted.”

Nov. 13, 1951: “Mr. and Mrs. McCormick, Mr. and Mrs. E. O’Steen and children, John and Chuck, of Jacksonville, Mr. and Mrs. Judson Strong, Martha Ruth and Johnny Strong, of Albany and Mr. and Mrs. King Speer, of Atlanta, were Sunday guests of Mr. and Mrs. M.T. King.”; “Miss Nan Gunn, who has completed training with the Women’s Air Force at Camp Gordon, Augusta, is spending a 10 day leave here with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Sam Gunn, before reporting for duty at Ft. Myers, Va.”

Nov. 26, 1951: “Lipscomb‘s Studio Erecting Building - Construction has been started on a two-story brick building on South Jackson street by Lipscomb‘s Studio, one of the city‘s older business concerns. The building will be located adjoining the alley at the rear of the Diana Shops, and will have a frontage of 25 feet on Jackson St. [facing the Carnegie Library]. The studios will occupy the entire buildings, Mrs. V.W. Lipscomb, head of the studios, said today. It will be modern throughout. The building is expected to be ready for occupancy soon after the first of the new year.”; “Jimmy Purvis, of Atlanta, spent Thanksgiving holidays with his aunt, Mrs. Jimmy Bass and Mr. Bass.”; “Mr. and Mrs. Jimmy Bass and family have moved to 512 Barlow … ”

Dec. 4, 1951: “The building of the I.B. Davis Funeral Home … will be razed … fire … destroyed the third floor and the remainder of the building was badly damaged by smoke and water. Work of razing the building will be started soon … ”

Dec. 6, 1951: “Mrs. Elinor Tillman Pruitt and Miss Lubel Speer have returned from a business trip to Atlanta.”

Dec. 12, 1951: “Mrs. C.M. Hale and Miss Laura Mae Hale have returned from Atlanta, where they visited Miss Barbara Hale.”

Dec. 24, 1951: “Pvt. Georgia Gunn, of Ft. Myers, Va., and cousin, M.Sgt. Jesse Joyner, of Fort Benning, are spending Christmas with Miss Gunn’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Sam Gunn.”; “Mr. and Mrs. Quention James and daughter, Libby, of Atlanta, are spending the Christmas holidays with relatives here.”



Alan Anderson, archivist of the Sumter Historic Trust, lives in Americus.